Stirrup leather attaching means for saddles



Jan. 17, 1956 D. H. MANNING STIRRUP' LEATHER ATTACHING MEANS FOR SADDLES Filed Aug. 31, 1953 INVENTOR pauyZa/Jalznz'ng A LIM "Il,

ATTORNEY United States Patent() STIRRUP LEATHER ATTACHING MEANS FOR SADDLES j Douglas H. Manning, Yoakam, Tex., assignor to Tex Tan of Yoakum, Yoakum, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application August 31, 1953, Serial No. 377,517

3 Claims. (Cl. 54-46) This invention relates to saddles and particularly to improvements in the means of attaching the stirrup leathers and fenders to the saddle.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means for attaching the stirrup leathers and fenders to a saddle whereby the stirrups may be freely swung forwardly and backwardly by the rider with no appreciable resistance, so that the rider may quickly adjust his balance in the saddle for quick or sudden movements of the horse.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device or the class `stated which shall minimize the wear on the leathers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as mentioned which may be readily installed, and at small expense.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a saddle illustrating the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved means for attaching the stirrup leather and fender to the saddle, and illustrated upon an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, upon a much enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of one of the elements of the attaching means.

Referring to the drawings, indicates a saddle which includes a seat 11, pommel 12 and skirt 13. Arranged on the saddle between the seat 11 and pommel 12 is a stirrup strap 14 having a depending end portion 15. Preferably, the strap 14 is looped over a longitudinally extending side bar 16 of the saddle frame; and the inner lap 14' of the strap 14 extends downwardly between the element 16 and skirt 13, to which skirt it is adju'stably secured by a buckle 17. The construction is the same on both sides of the saddle, and independent of each other, so that the illustration and description of one assembly is ample to set forth the invention.

Pivotally connected to the outer depending end of the stirrup strap 14 is a stirrup leather 18, to the lower end 19 of which is attached the stirrup 20. The stirrup leather 18 is preferably widened above the stirrup attaching end 19, forming a rearwardly extending fender 21. Having the fender 21 integral with the stirrup leather 18 is conducive to greater comfort to the rider than if a separate fender were laced or riveted to the strap. It is obvious that the exibility of the leather, particularly the portion 19 below the fender 21, permits the stirrup 20 to be turned at any angle suitable to comfortably receive the foot of the rider.

The edge 18 of the upper end 18 of the leather 18 is well rounded, and said upper end 18 is pivotally connected to the end 15 of the stirrup strap 14, as hereinbefore stated, so that the stirrup and fender may be swung forwardly or rearwardly as desired by the rider, without any appreciable resistance.

Riveted, or otherwise secured, as at 22, to the opposite faces of the end 15 ofthe strap 14, are a pair of similar plates 23, the lower portions 24 of which extend downwardly beyond the ends of straps 15, and are provided with comparatively large circular bearing apertures 25. The rounded upper end 18 of the leather 18 extends between the lower portions 24 of plates 23, and iixed to the opposite faces of said end 18 are a pair of trunnion discs 26 fitted into the apertures 25. A pair of plates 27 of greater diameter than the discs 26 are secured concentrically to said discs with the peripheral portions 28 thereof overlapping the adjacent portions of plates 23 surrounding the apertures 25. Preferably a pair of rivets 29 extend through the plates 27, discs 26 and leather 18 to rigidly secure said parts together.

In the drawings the thickness of the elements 23, 26 and 27 are exaggerated for the purpose of clarity of illustration, as said elements are, for the comfort of the rider, of comparatively thin sheet metal. In practice, the plates 23 and 27 are preferably of 18 guage steel, whereas the discs 26 are of 16 guage metal. This slight difference in the thickness of the plates 22 and discs 26 prevents binding of the elements and lassures free, unhampered swinging ofthe stirrups. By the arrangement as above described, a construction is provided whereby all frictional and tensile strain will be confined to the metal elements 24, 25 and 26; and also permitting a free and easy swing to the stirrup leather 18.

As above described, the fender 21 is preferably formed integrally with the stirrup leather; but it is to be understood that the stirrup leather 18, without the integral fender 21, may be attached to the stirrup strap 14 by the pivotal connection above described without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should also be noted that by means of the buckle 17 the strap 14 may be adjusted to raise or lower the stirrup as desired.

I claim:

l. A saddle and a strap secured thereto and having a depending end, in combination with a stirrup leather, and means for pivotally connecting the upper end of said stirrup leather to said depending strap end, said means comprising a pair of plates tixedly connected to said strap end and extending beyond said end and overlapping the upper end of said leather, the extended ends of said plates being provided with axially aligned circular bearing apertures, a pair of circular trunnion discs fixed to the opposite faces of the upper end portion of said leather and mounted for oscillation in said apertures, and means fixed to said discs for holding said plate ends in operative relation to said trunnion discs.

2. A saddle and a strap secured thereto and having a depending end, in combination with a stirrup leather, and means for pivotally connecting the upper end of said leather to said depending strap end, said means comprising a pair of plates xedly connected to said strap, said plates extending beyond said end and overlapping the upper end portion of said leather, the extended ends of said plates being provided with circular bearing apertures, a pair of circular trunnion bearing discs fixed to the sides of the upper end portion of said leather and mounted for oscillation in said apertures, and plates fixed against the outer faces of said trunnion discs and overlapping the adjacent portions of the first said plates to hold the latter in operative relation to said trunnious.

3. A saddle and a stirrup strap secured thereto, said lstrap having a depending end, in combination with a stirrup leather and means for pivotally connecting the upper end of said leather to said depending strap end, said means comprising a pair of plates ixedly connected to said strap end, said plates extending beyond said end extending ends of said plates being provided with circular v bearing 'pertr'es, a pr of circular t'runnon discs fixed to the opposite sides of the. upper portion of said leather .and`v mountedg for oscillation insaid apertures, rsaid dises ,overlapping the adjacentportions of the rst said plates.

References cned in theme of this patent I INLTED` S'IIA'ITES.y yPATENTS Webb Sept. 17, 1918 Steele Apr. 6, 1943 Funk Apr. 19, 1949 Diaz Jan. :6, 1953 .Nil 

